Walter Brandt was born on 24 March 1917 at Bad Salzuflen.
At the outbreak of World War 2, Brandt was serving with 2.(J)/LG 2. He
claimed his first victory on 13 March 1941, when he shot down a RAF Spitfire
fighter 20km north of Cap Gris Nez. Brandt participated in the invasion
of Russia. On 6 January 1942, 2.(J)/LG 2 was redesignated 2./JG 77. By
June 1942, Brandt had 20 victories to his credit. He had also flown over
100 ground attack missions. In July 1942, 2./JG 77 was relocated to the
Mediterranean theatre. From bases in Sicily, Brandt claimed 14 victories
over and around Malta to raise his victory total to 35. Operating over
North Africa from October 1942, Brandt added three further victories. However
on 14 January 1943, having recorded his 38th victory, he was seriously
wounded, flying Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 10 744) “Black 4”, in aerial combat southwest
of Buerat. Hospitalised, he was to lose a leg. Oberfeldwebel Brandt was
awarded the Ritterkreuz on 24 March while still in hospital. In August
1944, Brandt returned to combat duty, complete with an artificial leg,
leading 2./JG 3 on Reichsverteidigung duties. In the afternoon of 26 November,
I./JG 3 were ordered to scramble on a defensive mission in very hazy weather.
Radio contact with the ground was lost. In these poor conditions the Gruppenkommandeur,
Hauptmann Horst Haase (62 victories, RK) collided with his wingman, Leutnant
Hans Fritz (12 victories), both aircraft crashing from low altitude near
Erkelenz with their pilots still aboard. Brandt assumed command of the
formation and led it back to Paderborn. However, Brandt was then placed
under arrest for cowardice in the face of the enemy because there had been
no contact with the enemy and the formation could not be reached by radio
at low level to be guided on to the enemy. The charges were later dismissed.
On 12 December, he led a successful interception against a formation of
RAF Lancaster four-engine bombers making a daylight raid on Essen. Brandt
was successful in the engagement, claiming one of the bombers shot down.
Brandt suffered injuries on 25 December, when his Bf 109 G overturned in
a take-off accident at Paderborn. His injuries were serious enough to require
hospitalisation and keep him from participating in Operation Bodenplatte,
the aerial attack on Allied airfields in Holland, Belgium and France on
1 January 1945. On 22 January 1945, 2./JG 3 was relocated to Stettin-Altdamm
for operations over the Eastern front. The primary mission of the unit
was low-level attacks in support of the German army in the Bromberg/Posen
area. Additionally, escort missions for Fw 190 ground-attack and Ju 87
anti-tank aircraft were flown. On 10 February, the unit relocated to Pinnow
near Kolberg in Pomerania. On 3 March 1945, Brandt destroyed 3 Russian
tanks with bombs, strafed and set on fire 20 trucks and shot down two Russian
Pe-2 twin-engine bombers and a LaGG-3 fighter. However, he was again shot
down and wounded in aerial combat with a Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground
attack aircraft. He successfully managed a belly landing in his damaged
Bf 109 G-14 (W.Nr. 464 278) near Augustwalde. Following the dissolution
of I./JG 3 on 23 March 1945, Brandt was appointed Staffelkapitän of
7./JG 3. He held the post until the end of the war. Brandt died of complications
from the wounds he received during the war on 28 January 1977 at Bottrop.
Walter Brandt was credited with 43 victories in
527
missions. Included in his mission total are over 100 ground attack missions.
He recorded 23 victories over the Eastern front.
Included in his total is one four-engine bomber
and twelve Spitfires recorded over the Western
front.